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PM says government will pay Manchester Arena bombing costs PM says government will pay all Manchester Arena bombing costs
(about 11 hours later)
Theresa May has promised the government will fully fund the costs of dealing with the Manchester Arena bombing after criticism that an initial offer fell at least £5m short of what local authorities needed. Theresa May has promised the government will fully fund the £28m costs of dealing with the Manchester Arena bombing after criticism that an initial offer fell at least £5m short of what local authorities said was needed.
The government had previously said Manchester had been assured it would receive £12m, with £3m being made available immediately. There was outrage on Friday when it was revealed that the prime minister had offered just £12m, with £3m being made available immediately. In a letter to Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester’s mayor, May said the government would reimburse only “reasonable costs”.
But the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, said more than £17.5m had already been spent and suggested at least £10.4m more could be needed to cover costs including the inquests into the 22 deaths at a concert by the American singer Ariana Grande and an inquiry. He warned that local authorities would be forced to cut services to make up the shortfall. Burnham fought back, saying more than £17.5m had already been spent and suggested at least £10.4m more could be needed to cover costs including the inquests into the 22 deaths and an inquiry.
The prime minister said a taskforce had been established within the Cabinet Office to oversee progress on meeting the costs. The £12m would have meant local authorities being forced to cut services to make up the shortfall on what had already been spent, he had warned.
She said: “The terror attack in Manchester was one of the darkest moments in the city’s history. Twenty-two people were killed in a brutal act of hatred deliberately aimed at innocent children on what should have been one of the best nights of their young lives. The PM told the Manchester Evening News: “Be in no doubt, Manchester will get the financial support it needs – and if that costs £28m, as Andy Burnham has estimated, then that is what we will make available.”
“In the hours, days and weeks that followed the arena bombing, the spirit of Manchester shone out in defiance of an attack designed to destroy lives and devastate a community. The offer was welcomed by Burnham, in a tweet on Sunday night.
“I promised in the wake of that appalling atrocity this government would do all it could to help victims recover and the city to heal. I repeat that commitment today. I thank the Prime Minister for her helpful words this evening. We will work constructively with the Taskforce to achieve a fair resolution. https://t.co/ssi4Zc2nRE
“Where your public services have had to bear, or will bear, unexpected and exceptional costs in coping with this terrible attack, these will be met by the government. The process of making those payments is ongoing and I understand the frustration felt at the pace of delivery. A taskforce has been set up within the Cabinet Office to make sure different government departments responsible for processing payments to Manchester all work together.
“So I have taken steps to speed up our response. Over the weekend, a taskforce has been established within the Cabinet Office to oversee progress and expedite payments when necessary. It will coordinate the cross-government response, pulling together the work of the Home Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice. The PM said the taskforce would work to “oversee, progress and expedite payments when necessary”.
“Not all the funding will be needed immediately. For example the inquests, opened and adjourned this month, will not begin until next June. Be in no doubt, however, Manchester will get the financial support it needs, and if that costs £28m, as Andy Burnham has estimated, then that is what we will make available.” Others questioned why the government had initially offered to pay only part of the costs.
“It’s takes some detachment and poor judgment to eventually do the right thing in such a poor way,” tweeted the MP for Oldham, Jim McMahon.
Greater Manchester police spent £9.8m on extra policing following the bomb on 22 May, according to figures submitted to the government by Burnham.
The NHS incurred costs of £3.47m and the North West ambulance service £198,000.
Part of the £28m requested by Burnham includes an estimated £5m for inquests into the 22 people killed in the attack. An independent inquiry into various agencies’ response to the bomb is expected to cost £320,000.
The £28m figure also includes a £4m bid to Visit Britain to promote Greater Manchester as a safe holiday destination.